Dozens of passengers faced a delay last night after their train was halted by a drunk man lying on the line.

The 18.13 Ipswich to Lowestoft service was brought to a standstill after a member of the public spotted the man, wearing a red T-shirt, and a dog on the line near Melton, north of Woodbridge.

The train, which was due to make stops at Halesworth, Beccles, Oulton Broad South and Lowestoft and was carrying about 50 passengers at the time, was made to stop for about 40 minutes.

Passenger Zoah Hedges-Stocks said the man was helped up but seemed to be 'staggering' by the line. She added: 'He was pulled off the tracks and regained consciousness but we couldn't move until the police turned up.'

She said the passengers had been 'quite calm but curious' and said the train had eased to a stop rather than carry out an emergency stop.

A Suffolk police spokesman for confirmed that officers had attended, along with colleagues from British Transport Police (BTP) and that the man was taken home but not arrested.

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said the 18.13 East Suffolk Line service had been held up at Melton for about 40 minutes. He added: 'I understand that was while BTP attended as there was a trespasser on the track. He has now been apprehended.'